Old Town San Diego Day of the Dead Celebration

The annual street fair returns to San Diego Avenue and will benefit students visiting Old Town.

The annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration in Old Town will kick off with a street fair on October 29 and 30, 2022 and will culminate with the traditional candlelight procession starting at Sundown, November 2.

The free street fair, produced by The Old Town San Diego Foundation and hosted by the Old Town Chamber of Commerce is sponsored by AT&T and McDonalds. More than 50 booths will be on hand with everything from face painters to food items, crafts, local artisans, and community groups.

There will be a kids’ craft area, a stage with live entertainment and a beer garden as well. The event will run the length of San Diego Avenue from Twigg St south to El Campo Santo Cemetery. A portion of the proceeds from the two-day event will support the Old Town San Diego Foundation which provides grants to underserved schools for field trips to Old Town San Diego for elementary students. The street fair celebration will be from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

Originating in Mexico, Día de los Muertos is a celebration to remember and honor those who have departed. Traditionally, the streets near cemeteries are filled with decorations, flowers, candy calaveras and parades. Mexican families create special altars displaying offerings of food, candles, incense, ochre yellow marigolds, and photos of departed loved ones.

Representing the more traditional celebration of Dia de los Muertos, the annual procession will take place on Nov. 2, 2022, beginning in front of the Immaculate Conception Church, located at San Diego Avenue and Twiggs Street. The procession will commence at 6 p.m. and will travel down San Diego Avenue to El Campo Santo Cemetery.

Throughout the weekend up until November 2, restaurants, businesses, museums, and shops will be creating traditional and contemporary Día de los Muertos altars (ofrendas). Unique ofrendas will honor historic Old Town figures, as well as more current stories. A public ofrenda will be in El Campo cemetery where visitors are encouraged to add their own mementos, photos, and written tributes to loved ones.

It is highly suggested that visitors take public transportation using the San Diego Trolley or the MTS bus system as parking will be limited.

For more information about Día de los Muertos in Old Town, visit here.